Changes Addiction and Treatment Blog
Our addiction and treatment blog is here to help you navigate the space between addiction and recovery
The Longer The Treatment The Better The Results
Evidence shows that the longer a person stays in treatment, the higher the chances that they will achieve long-term sobriety. But even brief treatment is better than no treatment at all. Aftercare and outpatient programmes are a good idea for those unable to spend a...
Why is it so important to complete rehab treatment and engage addicted clients?
Addiction treatment works best when addicts or alcoholics successfully complete rehab treatment and don’t drop out before the process in finished. Client engagement has also been found to increase an addicted client’s chance of successful long-term sobriety. This is...
Confrontational treatment approaches for addiction do not work: Here’s the evidence
Confrontational treatment approaches have been used for addiction treatment for decades, despite the fact there is no evidence to show it is effective. Studies show that confrontational treatment actually does more harm than good. This is blog number 13 in the series...
Co-existing Psychiatric Disorders and Addiction Need to be Treated Simultaneously
Dealing with addiction is hard enough on its own, but it is even more difficult when you’re dealing with a co-occurring mental illness such as depression or bipolar disorder. The link between mental illness and addiction goes both ways. About 50% of people with a...
Addicts and alcoholics face issues other than addiction, that need to be addressed in treatment
An addict or alcoholic going to treatment is likely to be facing myriad issues, and many of these are issues other than addiction. These issues include medical, social, vocational and legal problems that are associated and contributory factors to their addiction or...
Relapse Prevention: Drug or alcohol relapses are common but can be prevented
Addiction is often described as a relapsing condition and many people relapse after treatment, which is why relapse prevention is important. The United States’ National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) defines addiction as “a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by...
Myth Busting: Find Out Why These 10 Myths About Addiction and Sobriety Are Downright False
What are myths about addiction and sobriety? Can they stop people from getting into recovery? For rehab to be effective, these myths need to be challenged by the truth. This is why it is important to have people on the staff of a treatment centre who are in recovery...
Wanting to change, and believing change is possible, is important for addicts and alcoholics in treatment
Although levels of motivation at the start of therapy have no effect on treatment outcomes, improving a person’s motivation to change during treatment improves the likelihood of treatment success, the key lies in them believing change is possible. Improving an...
The power of a personalised programme is what makes rehab a success
Addiction treatment is usually comprised of a number of different types of therapies that work towards a successful rehab admission and recovery. Group therapy is important as it allows the client to connect and relate to other addicts or alcoholics. But group therapy...
Rehab works best when therapy addresses a patient’s beliefs and expectations
Addicts and alcoholics who come into treatment are often scared about getting clean and sober, they bring with them beliefs and expectations that need to be comprehensively considered and addressed by the therapist. If they are not addressed the entire therapeutic...
Going to rehab more than once doesn’t mean you’re a lost cause
A relapse after treatment can feel like the end of the world or a hopeless situation. But it is not. The reality is that many people require multiple treatment attempts before they find long-term recovery. Relapse is often part of the learning process. It is your...
Does involuntary rehab work?
Many people think that drug and alcohol rehabilitative treatment will only work if a client is willing and enthusiastic about going to rehab and getting sober and this begs the question, does involuntary rehab work? But evidence shows that low motivation, or just not...